Case Study Solar Microgrid Integrates Solar PV, Energy Storage, Smart Grid Functionality and Advanced Vehicle-to-Grid Capabilities Project awarded Maryland Energy Administration s prestigious Game Changer award 4539 METROPOLITAN CT.
Overview 3 OnStar Integration 4 Project Elements 5 Performance 5 System Pictures 6 System Schematic 7 Web Based Dashboard 8 4539 METROPOLITAN CT.
Overview General Motors, OnStar and TimberRock Energy Solutions have collaborated to deploy an advanced, solar microgrid at GM s E-Motor Plant in White Marsh, Maryland. The objective of the project was to quantify how a microgrid comprised of distributed energy resources (DERs) that include solar PV, EV charging infrastructure, stationary li-ion energy storage and a fleet of Chevy Volts could deliver an economic benefit stack sufficient to enable scalable, microgrid business models. The project tightly integrates the performance of the various DERs within the microgrid via TimberRock s Distributed Energy Resources Management System (DERMS) called De-MAP. De- MAP serves as the integration platform for both the DERs and external market management systems. The DERs are aggregated and managed as a single block of capacity allowing them to straddle the meter and be dispatched to deliver value to both the host site delivering costeffective energy and reducing demand charges and the grid by providing services like frequency regulation. The project represents the first commercial deployment of OnStar s Smart Grid solutions which allows EVs to be integrated with a microgrid and directly managed as grid-interactive resources. PJM, the grid operator, was heavily involved with the project since its inception and the Maryland Energy Administration has awarded the project their prestigious Game Changer award. 4539 METROPOLITAN CT.
OnStar Integration OnStar s ubiquitous network and vehicle connectivity was leveraged to provide advanced vehicleto-grid integration with the solar-based microgrid. Whether physically on site or not, the EVs load can be reduced in response to a demand response request or pricing signal. Most uniquely, the charging of the Volt can be modulated across its charging range in direct response to a frequency regulation signal. In aggregate, this allows the fleet to support grid balancing tapping into the revenue stream it provides - while never discharging energy from the vehicle to the grid. Infographic depicting the Microgrid currently deployed at GM s E-Motor Plant- OnStar and TimberRock connect to manage GM s solar PV and energy storage as well as a fleet of Chevy Volts. GM is positioning EVs as a means of helping balance grid capacity GM s partner for pulling this off is TimberRock - Forbes Oct 13 4539 METROPOLITAN CT.
Project Elements 600kW of combined solar PV (roof-mount and islanding-capable canopy mount) Sub-set of the solar PV integrated with multiple advanced bi-directional inverters with microgrid (islanding) capability Custom parking lot canopy with integrated energy storage and inverter cabinets Transactive Energy Router - Embedded control hardware, telecommunications and software required for optimization, aggregation, and dispatch DERMS provided by cloud-based De-MAP Stationary li-ion storage with integrated thermal management EV charging stations providing free charging for employees, guests and suppliers Performance Generation of renewable electricity for EV charging and use by the E-Motor plant Solar firming & peak shifting Demand charge reduction Frequency regulation via stationary and mobile distributed energy resources Spinning reserve Dynamic load shedding during periods of high grid congestion as signaled by real-time LMP data EV fleet management 4539 METROPOLITAN CT.
System Pictures Li-ion energy storage Solar PV charges the stationary batteries, plugged in EVs and back-feeds the E-Motor Plant Bi-directional inverters full integrated into structural columns of solar PV canopy 4539 METROPOLITAN CT.
Six EV chargers provide power to a fleet of Chevy Volts. De-MAP software communicates directly with the EV via OnStar, eliminating the need for intelligent and costly plugs/chargers System Schematic Ancillary Services Revenues Solar Microgrid Renewables - Storage - Smart Grid - Vehicle-to-Grid Energy & Capacity Payments Long-Term Energy Supply Agreement Roof Mount Solar Microgrid Customer Meter Utility Meter Sustainable Microgrid Islanding- Capable Solar PV 6-Vehicle EV Fleet Charging Infrastructure Li-ion Storage Electricity E-Motor Plant Transactive Energy Router Distribution Utility Ancillary Services - Frequency Regulation -Spinning Reserve Local Optimization Local generation and/or pass through; utility used to balance Utility Support - Load Shedding - Congestion Relief Distributed Energy Management & Aggregation Platform (De-MAP) Charging Modulated To Support Grid Balancing 4539 METROPOLITAN CT.
Web Based Dashboard For more information, contact: Contact: bhollenbeck@timberrockes.com Screen capture of De-MAP web-based system dashboard. Shows complex data and energy flows that allow Transactive Energy Screen capture of De-MAP EV fleet management application 4539 METROPOLITAN CT.